/ Conditions in Scotland?

Have been planning on booking a winter mountaineering course the last week of January up in Scotland. This will be my first foray into winter climbing, but with the mild start to the year I've been holding off on booking, as I have been concerned the conditions might mean we don't get to full benefit of the course and when your spend the sums of money involved you want to get your monies worth. The intended area is Glencoe/Ben Nevis.

So just wondering what conditions are like up there with a view of a novice winter climber looking to learn?

In reply to Confused Chimp:
I took part in a winter course a few years ago in Glencoe and the conditions were great which made it totally worthwhile. However, this year is really mild and hardly any snow. There's a Ben Nevis webcam on the tourist information site, just to show you the total lack of snow.
Maybe hold off till late February early March, in the hope for better weather.
It's a lot of money to spend if there's not enough snow.
Hope this of some use?

In reply to Confused Chimp: whoever you book it with should have enough local knowledge to find some better conditions as there is usualy always something in condition it might just be more remote or a longer drive away. also forecast to turn colder this week with snow on the way again.

In reply to Confused Chimp:
I think there will probably be enough snow left in the major gullies for a course, but personally I'd consider leaving in until mid feb, better chance of things being in good nick then IMO.

Is it a Mountaineering or a Climbing course? If the former conditions need not be such a big factor, as long as there is snow on the ground (and there is) the instructor will be able to keep the content valid. To be honest, for that level of course high winds are a far bigger obstacle to learning than high temperatures.

> (In reply to Jamie Bankhead)
> Whilst I'm sure that's true..... but imagine how much more exciting going in to the highlands is when there is a good snow covering as compared to a few remaining patches.

For sure you can hang off - but if everyone does that when the conditions get good your chances of getting on a course will be greatly reduced - chance you take. Hows to say that mid February won't be the windiest/snowiest/snowless one for decades...

In reply to Confused Chimp: I would suggest you go ahead and book it. A few days makes a huge difference to the weather conditions, and if your Course Provider is switched on ( which i'm sure they will be) then they will have lots of plans to make sure the week works.

Echo what others have said; there is simply no way of saying how conditions/weather late Jan will stack up against Feb. Could be better, could be worse. You take your chances, but you *will* get something done.

In reply to Confused Chimp: we are going up anyway this weekend for potential climbing on saturday and sunday, the idea is play it by ear, but looking at the current forecast could anyone let me know what might come in... this post obviously confirms I am no expert. Staying in Cairngorms first night then over towards fort william second night. any sort of suggestion would be appreciated.